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Gospel? Salvation?

Today I read an interesting article on the Morning Meditations blog. I think it raises some important questions about our understanding of what “salvation” is. I particularly note the suggestion that Christians tend to have a far too small concept of salvation.

Excerpt:

First, the Christian church has forgotten that Jesus was and is a practicing Jew. Second, Christians have forgotten the centrality of Israel in God’s plan to redeem the world and her continued covenant status as God’s chosen people. Third, Christianity has an extremely low view of the Torah itself and the commandments God gave to the Jewish people. Fourth, the Christian gospel message, having replaced the broad and majestic vision of the kingdom of heaven with a knowledge-based individualistic salvation, has been emptied of its power.

-Boaz Michael

Chapter 2: The Church Needs to Change (pg 61) Tent of David: Healing the Vision of the Messianic Gentile

If anything in the above-quoted paragraph shocked you as a Christian, then you probably need to get a copy of Boaz’s book and read it all the way through. However, I’m not writing this “meditation” today to shock you, but to remind you of something.

2 thoughts on “Gospel? Salvation?”

“…the Christian gospel message, having replaced the broad and majestic vision of the kingdom of heaven with a knowledge-based individualistic salvation, has been emptied of its power.”

Amen !! Christ’s message, first and foremost…and what He told us to seek FIRST…is God’s Kingdom/rule/government.

Not surprisingly, the enemy’s attack on the American Church’ thoughts and hearts has been on that exact point: starting from Ronald Reagan’s inaugural applause-line that “government IS the problem.”

The “broad and majestic [on Jesus’ authority, I’d add ‘all-encompassing’] vision of the kingdom” is exactly what’s lost in the “me and Jesus” individualism of most modern concepts of “salvation.” Along with the reverence that comes with acknowledging God’s sovereignty and purpose is infinitely greater than our own.